DANDENONG resident Joanna Palatsides brought locals and women’s organisations together to rid Dandenong Park of rubbish – including used syringes – on Clean Up Australia Day.
Members from the Casey and Monbulk Penguin Clubs, a public speaking group for women, Veil Education Inc, an education service for isolated women, and the Dandenong Women’s section of the Liberal Party cleared almost 50 bags of litter from around Dandenong Creek.
“To support our ethnically diverse volunteers, the Liberal Party’s South Eastern Business Branch donated a Halal barbecue and a local Afghan woman supplied her own homemade bread,” Ms Palatsides said.
“Much amusement was had with accusations that the men were being typical men by concentrating on the barbecue and leaving the women to do the real work!”
Ms Palatsides said the event was more than a contribution to the quality of Dandenong’s environment.
“Several promising ideas emerged from the synergy of bringing together so many women in a common cause with all their different perspectives, cultures, needs and resources,” she said.
